“Martial law will lead to the destruction of city infrastructure and will trigger and uncontrolled flow of refugees,” Donetsk Mayor says

DONETSK, June 11. /ITAR-TASS/. Vital facilities in the cities and regions of eastern Ukraine “are on the brink of humanitarian disaster,” Donetsk Mayor Alexander Lukyanenko said in an appeal posted on his website on Wednesday.

“The imposition of martial law will not improve the situation, but will just worsen it, I believe,” the mayor said. “It is not clear what kind of forces will be ensuring this regime in all cities of the two regions (Donetsk and Luhansk). Martial law will lead to the destruction of city infrastructure and will trigger and uncontrolled flow of refugees,” he said.

The mayor said “as much as 15% of the country’s population” are affected by armed clashes, while “almost seven million residents hear accusations of separatism and collusion”.

The mayor said he intended to appeal to President Petro Poroshenko, the government and the parliament, to demand “urgent full-scale negotiations at the highest level right on the territory of our two regions on the settlement of the conflict, engaging Russia and international organisations as mediators”.

“It is necessary to stop a fratricidal war, to prevent the death of civilians, children and old people,” he said, adding “As long as there is at least one chance to stop the war, it must be availed”.